Latest news with #SusanHinchcliffe
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bradford set to benefit from big shake up in how Government funds Councils
A MAJOR shake up in how Councils are financed is expected to leave Bradford better off, despite fears many Councils may lose out. The Government is planning to create a new methodology to assess local authority needs, factoring in population and deprivation. It will also assess need for adult and children's services. While the overall Government spend on local authorities will not change, the new methodology will mean some areas see a reduction in central government funding for Councils, while others see an increase. Bradford Council's Leader Susan Hinchcliffe believes that Bradford is likely to be one of the areas that benefits from improved funding. Under the changes, it is believed overall spending will fall for 186 councils and rise by the same total sum for 161. One in 10 will see a fall in overall funding, while one in 10 will see an increase of 10 per cent or more. Any rise in central Government funding could prove vital to Bradford Council, which is currently only avoiding bankruptcy through a mix of borrowing and selling assets. Cllr Hinchcliffe said: "We've been lobbying to get a new fairer funding formula in place for councils for years, something the last Government failed to do. 'So it's a relief to see the new Government pushing ahead with these changes, early in their term. "Most Northern councils have been at the mercy of an old Government regime that took money away from us and instead directed it to more affluent areas. 'We anticipate that our financial settlement will improve under this new funding formula so we'll be backing it. We won't know the exact amount until later in the year but the sooner it can be put in place the better." A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies says the changes would create big 'winners and losers' as ministers attempt to address perceived unfairness in levels of core funding across the country. Sir Keir Starmer's own council, Camden in north London, will be hit by the reforms when taking inflation into account, the IFS added. The think tank said Camden, along with other inner London boroughs including Westminster, will have less money to spend on services even if they increase council tax by the maximum amount allowed. The IFS believes the East Midlands (22 per cent) and Yorkshire & the Humber (19 per cent) are set to see the biggest increases in funding.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bradford Council has 'nothing to hide' over grooming review
A council has said it has "nothing to hide" and will fully cooperate with a national review into grooming of Bradford Council met on Tuesday for the first time since Baroness Casey published her report and called for a full national inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in England and Rebecca Poulsen said there had been calls for a national inquiry for years – including by Keighley MP Robbie Moore - but the council and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin previously said it was not Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the authority would now work with the review and hand over un-redacted documents. She said: "Child sexual exploitation is a terrible crime and has a long lasting impact on its victims."Anyone who has spoken to victims know how appalling and brutal the perpetrators are."The victims should have been protected and loved, not tortured in this way."She said it was clear victims had been let down because this was the finding of numerous reviews on this issue that had been published by the council. "These reviews made for stomach churning reading," she went on to tell members the way the council and police dealt with CSE was now vastly different from a few years Brendan Stubbs shared concerns about the council redacting information that could "hinder the national review".He asked: "Can you assure us that Bradford Council will only redact what is totally necessary and not hinder victims from getting the justice they deserve?" Ms Hinchcliffe responded that she had "sent all reports we've done unredacted to the Home Secretary, so we've got nothing to hide here".Meanwhile, Ms Poulsen said the council's co-operation into the review was "about time"."We welcome your U-turn, but you have broken your trust with the victims I have spoken to," she leader councillor Imran Khan said there was "no more abhorrent crime that we will ever talk about in this Council chamber"."Every community finds this crime abhorrent," he added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bradford Council has 'nothing to hide' in grooming enquiry
BRADFORD Council has 'nothing to hide' and will fully co-operate with a national review into grooming gangs, councillors have been told. This week, the Council met for the first time since the announcement of a national review into grooming was announced by Government. At the meeting, both the Conservative and Labour groups put forward motions supporting the national review. Before the motions were debated, Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe assured councillors that the authority would co-operate fully with the review, and hand over un-redacted documents. In a question and answer session, Liberal Democrat Leader on the Council, Brendan Stubbs highlighted news articles on reports into grooming incidents in Greater Manchester being heavily redacted – and fears that this could hinder the national review. Cllr Stubbs said: 'Can you assure us that Bradford Council will only redact what is totally necessary and not hinder victims from getting the justice they deserve?' Cllr Hinchcliffe said: 'Given our history on this subject we've been very open on it over the years. Anyone coming in can see whatever we've been doing. I sent all reports we've done unredacted to the Home Secretary, so we've got nothing to hide here.' Presenting the Conservative motion, Conservative Leader Rebecca Poulsen said: 'Sadly for decades the abuse and rape of children, many of whom were in the care of the local authority has gone on, with many who should have been protective turning their backs or being unwilling to prevent the abuse to them. 'Social workers, police, children's home staff, many people who should have believed victims let them down. Many children were blamed and called child prostitutes. It is truly appalling. "Some stepped up when they saw what was happening like Ann Cryer, the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, but she was vilified and called a racist by the Labour party for raising this.' She pointed out that current Keighley MP Robbie Moore has called for a national enquiry for years, but that both the Labour leadership in Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin had said it was not needed. Referring to the fact that the Council has said it will support the recently announced inquiry, Cllr Poulsen said: 'About time. We welcome your U turn, but you have broken your trust with the victims I have spoken to. I welcome the U turns, but what message does it send to the victims?' Councillor Rebecca Poulsen (Image: T&A) She said it was clear that men of Asian ethnicity were 'overrepresented' in grooming cases, according to the review. Her motion called for Bradford to support the enquiry in any way it could. Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: 'Child sexual exploitation is a terrible crime and has a long lasting impact on its victims. 'Anyone who has spoken to victims know how appalling and brutal the perpetrators are. The victims should have been protected and loved, not tortured in this way.' She said it was clear they had been let down, because this was the finding of numerous reviews on this issue that had been published by the Council. Cllr Hinchcliffe added: 'These reviews made for stomach churning reading.' She told members the way the Council and police dealt with CSE was now vastly different from a few years ago. Cllr Hinchcliffe said the Conservatives like carrying out reviews but 'then don't do anything with their findings.' She was referring to the Jay report into grooming, which cost over £184m over seven years. One of the recommendations of that report were implemented by the previous Government. She said: 'We've apologised for what happened in the past and I have apologised on behalf of people in the chamber now and previously, because it wasn't the people that you see here who were in charge at that time – I think you know full well Cllr Poulsen that we all bear responsibility for the past, and its beholden on all of us to not bring politics into this. 'Never in all the years I have been leader have I been asked by any Councillor to cover up such a crime, all communities condemn this crime.' Deputy leader Councillor Imran Khan said: 'There is a no more abhorrent crime that we will ever talk about in this Council chamber. 'Every community finds this crime abhorrent.' Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey) is one of the longest standing councillors in the chamber. He said he was a probation officer in family courts in the past. He said: 'The terminology people would use in the past would turn your stomach.' He said in the past he had sat in meetings where police spoke about children who are now considered victims 'making choices.' Things were now taken much more seriously by police, he said.
ITV News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Council paid over £5m by NEC Group after they pulled out of Bradford Live
The original operator of a controversial £50million music venue in Bradford paid more than £5million to back out of its agreement with the council, it has been revealed. The NEC Group had been due to run the 3,800-seater Bradford Live before it suddenly announced it was pulling out in September 2024, four months before the start of Bradford's year as UK City of Culture. The decision left Bradford Council searching for a new operator for what was hailed as the biggest regeneration scheme in the city centre. Trafalgar Entertainment signed a 25-year lease to manage the site in April. It has now been revealed NEC Group paid £5.3million to Bradford Council after it withdrew from its agreement. Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: 'As people can see we secured a significant settlement from the NEC that protected the interests of the Bradford district taxpayer. "With the opening season for Bradford Live under the fantastic new operator, Trafalgar Entertainment, starting next month, we can now all look forward with excitement to a wonderful future for this amazing building.' Bradford Live, on the site of the former Odeon cinema, was initially forecast to cost between £22m and £25m and was due to open last year. But costs spiralled to £50m, with the council putting in £44m, and the venue has yet to open. It is now due hold its first gig on Yorkshire Day, 1 August. The concert, Yorkshire Calling, will feature classical singer, Aled Jones, acclaimed poet, Ian McMillan and the BBC Bantam of the Opera Choir with Bradford City legend, Chris Kamara.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scam warning over government energy-saving grant
People hoping to get free energy-saving upgrades to their homes as part of a government scheme could be targeted by scammers, councillors have warned. Bradford Council has been awarded more than £7m as part of the Warm Homes fund to improve energy efficiency in some of the district's poorest insulated homes. However, concerns have been raised that householders could fall victim to rogue companies posing as official council contractors. Kamran Hussain, the council's spokesman for neighbourhoods and community safety, urged the council officers to "make sure safeguarding is put in place so that these companies are not scamming customers". "Over the years, we have found that many people have been stung through grants that have been implied as coming through the council," Hussain said at a meeting. He said work had in fact been carried out by private companies that were not part of government funding, leading to a "very large bill". Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of the council, said: "If a householder is asked to pay something, it is not a council scheme." She said the council should give out clear information about the programme to ensure residents are not misled. Council officers said the local authority would directly manage the scheme, selecting a single contractor to do the work through official processes. Bradford Council had applied for £27 million from the Government's new Warm Homes scheme but, despite receiving less than requested, it still secured the largest grant awarded to any single council. The authority hopes the project will mirror the success of a previous scheme, which upgraded 635 homes in Bradford with roof and underfloor insulation in 2022 and 2023, and was praised by government officials as a model project. Sarah Ferriby, the council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "The work will make these homes a lot more comfortable, reduce their fuel bills, and assist in reducing carbon emissions." The scheme will roll out over the next three years, with additional funding potentially available if Bradford exceeds its delivery targets. The funding comes from a £500m national pot for energy performance upgrades and better heating for people living in some of the worst quality privately owned and rented homes. The free work could include new insulation, solar panels or an air source heat pump if suitable. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Warning after trader pretends to be council worker Residents warned over 'real menace' rogue traders
